1.1 Design Argument

• What is the main focus of Aquinas' 5th way in the Teleological argument?

  Aquinas observed that natural objects behave towards a certain goal or purpose.
• How do natural objects behave according to Aquinas?

  They act 'always, or nearly always' in the same way to obtain the best result.
• Give an example of a natural object that behaves in a goal-directed way.

  Flowers can move in alignment with the sun to get more sunlight.
• What does Aquinas suggest about the behavior of objects in the world?

  Objects do not behave randomly but with regularity in a goal-directed way.
• Why can't natural objects direct themselves towards their end according to Aquinas?

  Because they are either non-intelligent or insufficiently intelligent.
• What is required for a thing to move towards an end?

  An intelligent being must direct its behavior.
• How does Aquinas illustrate the need for an intelligent being to direct behavior?

  He compares it to how an archer directs an arrow.
• What does Aquinas claim about God's ability to direct behavior?

  God's ability to direct behavior is of a much greater type than human ability.
• What does God create to direct the behavior of objects?

  Natural laws that govern and regulate behavior.
• What is the conclusion of Aquinas' argument regarding natural laws?

  Natural laws must have an intelligent designer, which Aquinas identifies as God.
• What is Paley's design qua Purpose argument?

  It argues that complexity and purpose in natural objects are best explained by a designer.
• How does Paley illustrate his design argument using a watch?

  A watch's complexity and purpose suggest it had a designer, unlike a simple rock.
• What does Paley conclude about the universe based on his design argument?

  The complexity and purpose in the universe imply there must be a universe designer.
• What does Paley claim about the human eye and other natural features?

  They exhibit complexity fitted together to perform a specific purpose.
• What is a crucial strength of design arguments according to the text?

  Their use of analogy provides a best explanation style argument.
• How does analogy function in scientific inference according to Swinburne?

  It allows us to infer that similar effects have similar causes.
• What is Hume's objection to the analogy used in design arguments?

  He argues that similar effects do not necessarily have similar causes.
• What does Hume suggest about the analogy between natural objects and man-made artifacts?

  There may be no analogy between their origins.
• How does Hume challenge the comparison between a house and the universe?

  He questions the similarity between their structures and origins.
• What is Paley's argument regarding the property of complexity and purpose?

  It requires a designer, as it seems impossible to arise by chance.
• What does Aquinas' natural theology demonstrate according to A. McGrath?

  It shows the coherence of faith and observation.
• How does Swinburne respond to Hume's critique regarding multiple designers?

  He argues that one God is a simpler explanation than multiple gods.
• What is Hume's 'committee of Gods' objection?

  It suggests that multiple designers could exist, not just one God.
• What is the main point of Hume's critique of the design argument?

  It does not justify belief in the God of classical theism.
• What is a strength of design arguments mentioned in the text?

  They are inductive and a posteriori.
• How does Darwin's view relate to Hume's argument about design?

  Darwin suggests that the existence of suffering challenges the idea of a perfect designer.
• What is Hume's evidential problem of evil?

  It argues that the existence of evil undermines belief in a perfect God.
• What is the conclusion of Hume's philosophical argument regarding belief in a perfect being?

  Belief in a perfectly good being is not justified based on evidence of imperfection.
• How does Paley respond to the problem of evil in relation to design?

  He argues that even a broken watch must have a watchmaker, similar to the universe.
• What contemporary evidence supports Hume and Darwin's argument against design?

  Evolution shows that suffering and extinction have occurred over millions of years.
• How does Paley's argument rely on purpose in relation to the design argument?

  Purpose makes it more reasonable to infer design compared to mere complexity.
• What does Darwin's theory of evolution suggest about order in nature?

  Order can arise without evidence of purpose and design through natural processes.
• What does the study material suggest about the evidence of a perfect God?

  It suggests that evidence indicates there is no perfect God.
• What sarcastic remark did Darwin make regarding design?

  “Some design, huh?”
• What is a strength of the design argument according to the study material?

  • It relies on purpose.
  • Purpose is difficult for atheistic and scientific approaches to explain.
• How did Paley view complexity in relation to design?

  He believed complexity combined with purpose suggests design.
• What does Aquinas’ design argument rely on?

  It relies on purpose.
• What did Darwin's theory of evolution demonstrate regarding order in nature?

  It showed that order could be explained by natural scientific means, not necessarily by purpose and design.
• What is the flaw in the proponents of the design argument's thinking according to the study material?

  They wrongly believe that purposeful features of animals must have been created by a designer.
• How does Paley argue against chance in relation to complexity?

  He argues that complexity serving a purpose is unlikely to arise by chance, suggesting design is more reasonable.